Oncology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Oncology, including details on cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. | ||||||||
|
The future of photodynamic therapy in oncology.Allison RR, Bagnato VS, Cuenca R, Downie GH, Sibata CH Department of Radiation Oncology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. ALLISONR@mail.ecu.edu The medicinal properties of light-based therapies have been appreciated for millennia. Yet, only in this century have we witnessed the birth of photodynamic therapy (PDT), which over the last few decades has emerged to prominence based on its promising results and clinical simplicity. The fundamental and distinguishing characteristics of PDT are based on the interaction of a photosensitizing agent, which, when activated by light, transfers its energy into an oxygen-dependent reaction. Clinically, this photodynamic reaction is cytotoxic and vasculotoxic. While the current age of PDT is based on oncological therapy, the future of PDT will probably show a significant expansion to non-oncological indications. This harks back to much of the original work from a century ago. Therefore, this paper will attempt to predict the future of PDT, based in part on a review of its origin. Published 24 March 2006 in Future Oncol, 2(1): 53-71.
© 2005-2008 Oncology Research Today. All Rights Reserved. |
| ||||||
